A mine worker holds up a sign during a march at Lonmin's Marikana mine in South Africa's North West Province, September 5, 2012.
JOHANNESBURG —
A top South African platinum mine official says several parties have signed a peace accord after weeks of illegal strikes and the shooting deaths of 34 striking workers by police. But two key parties are holding out - the renegade union that started the strike, and some of the workers themselves.
Lonmin officials say they hope the signing of a peace accord late Wednesday will bring about “the elimination of violence and intimidation” and get miners back to work after weeks off the job. Officials say the accord paves the way for holding negotiations with unions and a workers’ delegation on their demand for a three-fold pay raise, to about $1,500 a month.
Source: Chamber of Mines of South Africa Figures for 2010
News of the accord caused Lonmin share prices to rally Thursday, rising as much as 8 percent. Lonmin signed the accord, as did the National Union of Mineworkers.
A representative from the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, critical to the events, says it has not signed the accord.
“The fact is, we didn’t sign that agreement yesterday. The agreement was signed yesterday but we didn’t sign," treasurer Jimmy Gama reiterated Thursday. "But in terms of the reasons why we did not sign it, we will be holding a conference, a media conference, tomorrow, to issue a statement.”
A man who identified himself as "a workers’ delegate" told local media his group did not sign because “a peace accord will not help us workers in any way.”
A group of workers launched a wildcat strike after union negotiations broke down last month, and there were violent clashes that killed eight workers and two policemen over the course of a week.
When a large crowd gathered near the dusty mine 100 kilometers outside Johannesburg on August 16, police said they felt they were under attack, and turned their weapons against the demonstrators, killing 34 people.
Those shootings rocked South Africa and the global platinum market. Since then, most miners have refused to return to work. Lonmin says about 5 percent of the work force has reported this week.
About 3,000 workers staged a march on Wednesday to reinforce their pay demands, and said they may repeat the action on Monday.
South African Police Kill 34 Striking Miners
1/9An unidentified woman chants as she protests against the police opening fire and killing striking mine workers a day earlier at the Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, August 17, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
2/9Members of a South African police crime unit investigate the scene of the shooting of miners at the Lonmin mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, August 17, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
3/9An unidentified woman cries as she protests against the police opening fire and killing striking mine workers a day earlier at the Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, August 17, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
4/9A policeman fires at protesting miners outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, August 16, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
5/9Policemen fire at striking miners outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, August 16, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
6/9A miner runs as police shoot outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, August 16, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
7/9Policemen in teargas and dust open fire on striking miners at the Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, August 16, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
8/9Police open fire on striking miners at the Lonmin Platinum Mine near Rustenburg, South Africa, August 16, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
9/9A paramedic (front L) receives help from a policewomen as he tends to the injured after protesting miners were shot outside a South African mine in Rustenburg, August 16, 2012.
South African police fired on striking workers at a platinum mine, killing 34 people.
